midge

noun

ˈmij 

: a tiny dipteran fly (such as a chironomid)

Examples of midge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To understand how the spiders survive in this environment, the team analyzed the chemical signatures in their tissues, which revealed that the arachnids feed on tiny midges that hatch from cave pools. —Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2025

These microbes are then eaten by small invertebrates such as midge larvae and isopods, which are in turn preyed on by larger insects like spiders, beetles, and centipedes. —New Atlas, 5 Nov. 2025

From bacteria to midges to spiders, the entire system depends on chemical reactions that most living things would find lethal. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

The disease is transmitted by small flies called midge, and is not known to cause disease in humans. —Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English migge, from Old English mycg; akin to Old High German mucka midge, Greek myia fly, Latin musca

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing midge

• biting midge
• gall midge

Rhymes for midge

• bridge
• fridge
• ridge
• abridge
• drawbridge
• footbridge
• oxbridge

Kids Definition

midge

noun

ˈmij 

: a very small fly : gnat

Medical Definition

midge

noun

ˈmij 

: any of numerous tiny dipteran flies (especially families Ceratopogonidae, Cecidomyiidae, and Chironomidae) many of which are capable of giving painful bites and some of which are vectors or intermediate hosts of parasites of humans and various other vertebrates see biting midge